The long-awaited multi-million pound facelift for John Street Market, Bradford, has taken a huge step forward.

A planning application has been submitted by the council's markets section for the facelift, which is now expected to begin in March.

It follows years of uncertainty and the collapse of dozens of businesses following the fiasco of old Rawson Market.

It will result in James Street Fish Market and traders from the temporary Rawson Market joining the John Street businesses in a state-of-the-art "super" market

There will be new stalls, walls, roof and entrances in the shabby building where traders have pressed for years for improvements.

Council officers are expected to meet traders next week to discuss the time scale and new stalls have been allocated to most of the John Street traders.

Rawson Market traders said today it could not come too soon after many businesses had folded because of the lack of passing trade.

The chairman of Rawson Market Traders' Association, John Parker, said he had had to reduce his business because of the problems since the traders were transferred to the temporary building about four years ago.

The old Rawson market hall should have been refurbished at a cost of £6 million, but the council was depending on the sale of Vicar Lane car park to fund it - and the transaction fell through. By that time most of the old building had been demolished and there are now plans to turn it into an Asian shopping centre.

Mr Parker said: "I am pleased that things are progressing but we were badly let down by the former Labour- controlled council. Many businesses have closed in the meantime. This should never have happened."

Richard Mead, of John Street Market Tenants Association, said: "It is very positive news. There will be some stalls to spare at the end of all the allocations and we hope the council will market them as soon as possible."

Association treasurer Anthony Ackroyd called for some start dates for businesses like his own which had been served notice to quit by March 12 because contractors needed to be on their premises.

Their businesses will shut for a time before relocating to other parts of the markets.

Mick Binns, the council's regeneration support manager, said they expected the work to take 38 weeks and most of the stalls had been allocated.

He said managing contractors Bovis would go out to tender once planning consent had been given.

Council leader Coun Margaret Eaton said the Tory group had made it a priority to get the market refurbishment off the ground.